Thunderstorm produces quarter-sized hail

Two sets of strong thunderstorms whipped through northeastern Illinois Sunday leaving a number of streets flooded and vehicles damaged from quarter-sized hail across Cook, Kane, McHenry and Lake counties.

The first storm tapered off late Sunday afternoon, but a second batch of quarter-sized hail and heavy downpour followed just a few hours later.

A flood advisory was in place for most of the day as storms dumped more than 2 inches of rain in some areas, the weather service said.

“The thunderstorms that moved through provided a lot of small pea-sized hail that covered the ground for a time,” said meteorologist Eric Lenning.

“In a few locations, hail got to be the size of nickels or quarters.”

Runoff from the rainfall, which fell at a rate of an inch or more per hour at some points, caused minor flooding of ditches, streams, creeks and backups on roadways, according to the weather service.

More than 2 inches of rain was measured in Cary and Mundelein, and close to 2 inches was reported in Woodstock.

The largest hail was reported in Crystal Lake where hail an inch in diameter fell, according to the weather service. Hail measuring 0.88 inches in diameter was measured in Vernon Hills and quarter-inch hail was recorded across Kane, Lake and McHenry counties.

The storm produced lightning that started at least three roof fires, fire officials said. A lightning bolt started a fire on the roof of a St. Charles house just after 11 a.m. Sunday, another fire happened at a home in Palatine Sunday afternoon, and a third bolt started a roof fire near Cary.